Kyrgyzstan: RSF condemns the unfounded conviction of four independent journalists
On 10 October, the Kyrgyz courts convicted Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, Azamat Ishenbekov, Aktilek Kaparov, and Ayke Beishekeeva, journalists for the YouTube channels Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese, of "calling for mass riots". Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this decision, unsupported by evidence, as an attempt to muzzle independent journalism and calls for their immediate release.
It is a dark day for press freedom in Kyrgyzstan. On 10 October, a court in Bishkek, the capital, handed down sentences ranging from three years of probation to six years of imprisonment for four of the 11 investigative journalists from the independent YouTube channels Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese prosecuted for "calling for mass riots". This arbitrary decision, which lacks tangible evidence, comes at the end of a trial that began on 29 May.
"This is a critical turning point for the independent press in Kyrgyzstan. The conviction of these four independent, anti-corruption journalists linked to Temirov Live and Ait Ait Dese after an unfair trial marks the Kyrgyz authorities’ blatant shift towards authoritarianism. These journalists are paying a high price for their investigations into the corruption of the ruling elite, in particular within the presidential circle. RSF calls for their immediate release and acquittal due to lack of evidence, which was granted to the seven other journalists prosecuted in this case.
Ten months of arbitrary persecution
The lawyer for Makhabat Tajibek kyzy and Azamat Ishenbekov, sentenced to six and five years' imprisonment respectively, has already announced his intention to appeal the decision. Aktilek Kaparov and Ayke Beishekeeva both received three years of probation. The seven other journalists were acquitted after living under house arrest since March and April; their legal persecution lasted nearly ten months.
The 11 journalists, all arrested on 16 January 2024, were prosecuted as part of a criminal case opened for "calling for mass riots". This was based on a linguistic analysis of social media posts by Temirov LIVE and Ait Ait Dese that dated to 12 January. However, the expert in Kyrgyz linguistics and literature who was brought in for questioning at the defense’s request found no evidence to confirm this accusation.
The preventive detention of the 11 journalists — which was renewed for all of them at least once, without justification — took place under terrible conditions. Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, the editor-in-chief of Ait Ait Dese and wife of the founder of Temirov Live, Bolot Temirov, was beaten in her cell by prison guards in April. Fellow journalist Aktilek Kaparov, arrested despite not having worked for Temirov Live for several months, slit his wrists in prison on 30 May because he could no longer stand the conditions of his detention.
The deterioration of press freedom
The authorities' persecution of independent journalists extends beyond Kyrgyzstan's borders. The Kyrgyz police decided to open a new criminal case against Bolot Temirov and Ulan Nurmanbetov, both in exile, for supporting "calls to riot". Both journalists refute these accusations.
Press freedom in Kyrgyzstan is deteriorating. On 7 October, amendments to the law on defamation proposed by the presidency were approved in the first reading, introducing a fine of 100 to 200,000 soms (around 1,080 to 2,150 euros) — an extremely high sum in the country — for cases of "insults" and "false information". In August 2024, the authorities also announced the creation of an Information Environment Research Center. Placed under the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy, its mission will be to monitor online media publications, under the pretext of combating what it considers false information. Last April, President Sadyr Japarov also signed a “foreign agents” law, modeled on a similar Russian law, that targets NGOs and independent media outlets.
